The gritty forward, making his Syracuse Crunch debut last Friday, saw the opportunity in the first period when Norfolk’s Nic Kerdiles crossed the blue line and cut toward the middle of the ice with his head down. Nicknamed the Brolldozer since his time playing minor midget hockey, Broll laid out the opposing forward with a clean open ice check and later answered the bell by fighting John Kurtz.

Since being traded from the Toronto organization earlier this month, Broll is focused on taking advantage of his fresh start with Syracuse.

“I wanted to get into the game early, whether it was physical or getting puck on the net,” the 22-year-old said. “I took advantage of the opportunity there.”

Coming into the season, Lightning 2011 sixth rounder Adam Wilcox had a lot of expectations on his shoulders. He was a Hobey Baker nominee and Mike Richter Trophy finalist as the nation’s best goaltender, and would be the unquestioned No. 1 once again for the mighty Gophers. Wilcox’s future was so bright, talk started that he may choose not to sign with the Lightning and instead become a free agent in the summer of 2015 and shop his services elsewhere.

The rookie defenseman, who netted his first professional goal two periods before blocking a shot that injured his ankle on Dec. 5, needed little time to knock off any rust when he returned to the Syracuse Crunch lineup late last month.

Dotchin realizes the ups and downs come with the territory.

“I remember blocking that shot. It wasn’t a goal, but it felt like one to the guys and to me,” Dotchin said. “The guys were patting me on the back and what-not. It was unfortunate that I was out for that long, but it’s something I’d go down and do that for the team again, for sure.”

In Anthony DeAngelo’s first game with Sault Ste. Marie after being traded by Sarnia, the Lightning 2014 first rounder did not register a point. That was January 9.

In 11 games since that time, DeAngelo has hit the scoresheet every game, racking up 22 points over that timespan. The 5'10" New Jersey native had seven points (and a fight) in three games last week, earning him our Prospect of the Week award.